Big bucks sought by biggest Missouri utility

Missouri’s biggest power company is asking for federal stimulus dollars to improve reliability, and help consumers save on their electric bills.

AmerenUE is asking the Department of Energy for 140-million dollars for its Smart Grid Program and for advanced management systems on its lines and in consumers’ homes. Company Vice President Dave Schepers says the money will help bring state of the art technologies to the distribution system that will let the company spot problems before they happen and respond more quickly when something does occur.

Part of the program involves power management devices for customers. "This device…displays the usage for the customer. And there’s also a web-based application that they can go to and it helps them look at what they’ve used (and) how much it’s cost them….that month," he says. AmerenUE says it will match the federal money with 140-million dollars of its own Schepers thinks the company will learn by early next year how much it will get. All of the money has to be spent by the end of 20-12.